Locating-buoy.



M. SHAFER.

LOCATING suov. APPLICATION FILED JULY 18, 1911- 1,295,805 Patented Feb. 25, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I- g Y i a 27 MA -i219 0 INVENTOR ATTORNEY M. SHAFER. LOCATING Buov.

APPLICATION FILED'JULY 18, I911- 1,295,805. Patented Feb. 25, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR WITNESSES ITED S ATE PATENT O Minus-snares; OF LAKE n-mbnn nicniean."

meant me-Buoy.

- tion to an automaticreel fixed to the ship.

Another andmore-specifio object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this nature, a reel from which aflexible connec tion may be unwound if pulled suddenly or rapidly, but which will automatically lock when brought to rest by the settling of the vessel to which it is attached on the bottom. The invention has for a further object the provision of a novelly constructed buoy mountedin a container and carrying a bell. With these and other objects in view as will become more apparent as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter fully described, illustrated and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view showing the buoy floated from a sunken vessel.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the apparatus assembled and attached to a ship, taken on a plane passing at right angles to the axis of the reel.

Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal sectional view, partly in elevation through the reel.

Fig.4 is a'perspective view showing the cam end of the reel.

Referring in detail to the drawingsby numerals, l designates a ship to any suit able place on which may be secured my 10- cating apparatus which comprises in general a buoy 2, container 3 and reel 4;.

The buoy is preferably made with an inverted hollow conical body 5 weighted at its lower end as at 6 and closed at its upper end by a head 7, the inclined side wall of which projects downwardly beyond the upper edge of the body 5 to overhang the same.

Y A bell 8 is mounted in a suitable frame 9 on top of the buoy.

In normally assembled posltion, the buoy rests in the tubular container 3 which may be secured to a vessel by suitable fasteners Specification of Letters Patent; I

' Application filedJuly 18, 1917; Serial NoE181,3 2 5.

Patenteareb. 25; 1 919.

passing through the base flange 10.- The upper end ofthe container is slightly-flared as at 11 so as'nottocause excessive wear to a flexible connection to be hereinafter designated" and the side wall 12- of the buoy head 7 "overlies'the'upper edge of the container so as to shed water therefrom. Openings 13 may be formed in the container; so

' as to break avacuum and-allow thebuoy to beeasily floated when the *vessel sinks.

The buoy' isconnected by a wire 14 or other flexibl'econnectionj to the drum l5ofthe reel 4. The drumfhas 'the heads '16 and The frame is secured to the f vessel; within the "container and holds the reel in such position that the line or flexible connection 141119.) be freely fed therefrom when the vessel sinks.

The reel is equipped with an automatic stop device which includes a cam rim 21 having a notch 22 into which a locking bolt 23 may be snapped to stop the rotation of the reel. The locking bolt slides longitudinally through a housing 24 in which is'an expansive helical spring 25 which engages the enlargement 26 on the bolt to urge the latter toward the reel. Thehousingis secured at right angles to the outer side of one of the side members 20 which latter is apertured to permit the passage of the bolt 23 therethrough. When the reel is revolved rapidly thebolt which is moved outwardly by the cam rim will not be moved inwardly fast enough by its spring 25 to snap into the notch 22 but when the rotation of the reel stops or slows down sufficiently the bolt will become operative. I

A partition or division plate 27 is fixed horizontally within the container above the reel and is slotted as at 28 to afford passage for the connection 14:. In order that the reel initially high speed so as tocause the notch in the cam rim to fly pastthe locking bolt. When the vessel settles tothe bottom, the locking bolt will operate to hold the reel stationary so as to not release further length of line and, therefore, it is evident that the portance since it prevents the buoy drifting.

a great distance away from the vessel in which event its line would be apt to become entangled passing ships or might drift against nearby land or rocks and therefore have its purpose defeated.

From the foregoing description taken in connectionith the accompanying drawings, it will be evident that I have provided a very simple and practical apparatus for locating sunken vessels which apparatusis especially adapted :Eor'use on ships s'ailing in land WatG/I' 'S Whose depth is not prohibitlve; s v e What lclaim isz- 4 i Y 1. A- buoy having ahollow inverted cal body Weighted at its lowerend', and a head closingv said body H having an inclined side all oVerhangi-n'g the;body. v y

2. In combination with a tubular --con- 'dopie's' of this patent may he obtaihedifor tainer adapted to be secured at one end to a vessel, a buoy having a body extending into the 'up peropen thereof and closely en gaging the same, and a head for'said buoy Having an inclined Wall overhanging the upper edge of the container, saidcontainer being formed with openings.

I anv apparatus of the character dc scribed, a reel, a buoy, a line connecting said buoy to the reel, andmeans for locking the reel, said-means heifigi-cemmessed when the reel is rotated; athigh 4, an apparatusefzthe character described, a buoy,- a3- container-thei'efor, a reel, a line connecting said reelv to the buoy, a partitionzin said container to which the line passes: and on Which a; length oi the line may becoiledand locking means for the reel,- saidmeans being; compressed when the reel is revolved athigh; speed. s

In testimony whereoi I aflix my signature,

., snares.

f ve m eaci'nny addressing the ""fionimiesfoner of fatent Washington, iii/0L, 7 

